5464 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 22 /Tuesday, February 3, 1998 /Rules and Regulations

(m) Approval—On July 10, 1996, the

Wisconsin Department of Natural

Resources submitted a revision to the

ozone State Implementation Plan. The

submittal pertained to a request to

waive the Oxide of Nitrogen

requirements for transportation

conformity in the Milwaukee and

Manitowoc ozone nonattainment areas.

[FR Doc. 98–2616 Filed 2–2–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–F

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 91–283; RM–7807, RM–

8772]

Radio Broadcasting Services; George

West, and Corpus Christi, TX

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Commission, at the

request of G & W Radio, allots Channel

228C3 to George West, Texas, as the

community’s second local FM service.

See 56 FR 50843, October 9, 1991. The

Commission also denies a

counterproposal (RM–8772) filed by

Reina Broadcasting, Inc. requesting the

substitution of Channel 234C2 for

Channel 234C3 at Corpus Christi, Texas,

since Reina failed to provide the express

agreement of Four M.L. Broadcasting

(applicant for Channel 281A at George

West) to upgrade and open a new filing

window for Channel 281C3 at George

West. Channel 228C3 can be allotted to

George West in compliance with the

Commission’s minimum distance

separation requirements with a site

restriction of 12.0 kilometers (7.5 miles)

southwest to avoid a short-spacing to

vacant Channel 281A, George West,

Texas. The coordinates for Channel

228C3 are 28–15–46 and 98–12–24.

Mexican concurrence for this allotment

has been received since George West is

located within 320 kilometers (199

miles) of the U.S.-Mexican border.

With this action, this proceeding is

terminated.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 2, 1998. The

filing for Channel 228C3 at George West,

Texas, will not be opened at this time.

Instead, the issue of opening a filing

window for this channel will be

addressed by the Commission in a

subsequent order.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pam

Blumenthal, Mass Media Bureau, (202)

418–2180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

synopsis of the Commission’s Report

and Order, MM Docket No. 91–283,

adopted January 7, 1998, and released

January 16, 1998. The full text of this

Commission decision is available for

inspection and copying during normal

business hours in the FCC Reference

Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, NW,

Washington, D.C. The complete text of

this decision may also be purchased

from the Commission’s copy contractor,

ITS, Inc., (202) 857–3800, 1231 20th

Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

Radio Broadcasting.

Part 73 of title 47 of the Code of

Federal Regulations is amended as

follows:

Part 73—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for Part 73

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 334,336.

§ 73.202 [Amended]

2. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM

Allotments under Texas, is amended by

adding Channel 228C3 at George West.

Federal Communications Commission.

John A. Karousos,

Chief, Allocations Branch, Policy and Rules

Division, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 98–1892 Filed 2–2–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs

Administration

49 CFR Part 192

[Docket PS–118A; Amendment 192–82]

RIN 2137–AC55

Excess Flow Valve—Customer

Notification

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs

Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This final rule requires

operators of natural gas distribution

systems to provide certain customers

with information about excess flow

valves (EFV’s). Specifically, customers

of new and replaced single residence

service lines must be provided written

notification about the availability of

these valves meeting DOT-prescribed

performance standards, and related

safety benefits and costs. If a customer

requests installation, the rule requires

an operator to install the EFV if the

customer pays all costs associated with

installation. EFVs restrict the flow of gas

by closing automatically if a service line

breaks, thus, mitigating the

consequences of service line failures.

This regulation would enhance public

awareness of the potential safety

benefits from installing an EFV.

DATES: This final rule takes effect

February 3, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mike M. Israni, telephone (202) 366–

4571, or e-mail:

mike.israni@rspa.dot.gov, regarding the

subject matter of this final rule, or the

Dockets Unit (202) 366–4453 for copies

of this final rule or other material in the

docket referenced in this rule.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

During routine excavation activities,

excavators often sever gas service lines

causing loss of life, injury, or property

damage by fire or explosion. EFVs

restrict the flow of gas by closing

automatically if a service line breaks,

and mitigate the consequences of

service line failures. Despite efforts,

such as damage prevention programs, to

reduce the frequency of excavationrelated service line incidents on natural

gas service lines, such incidents persist

and result in death, injury, fire, or

explosion. Because damage prevention

measures are not foolproof, RSPA has

sought an appropriate means to mitigate

the consequences of these incidents.

The National Transportation Safety

Board (NTSB) and others have

recommended EFVs to mitigate the

consequences of such incidents, thus,

saving lives and lessening the extent of

property damage.

By having an operator inform its

customers of the availability of EFVs for

installation at a cost and the resultant

safety benefits, customers can decide if

they want the operator to install an EFV

on the service line. Notification giving

information on EFVs may encourage

EFV use and, by encouraging such use,

may lead to reduced fatalities, injuries,

and property damage that can result

from excavation-related incidents on gas

service lines.

Statutory Requirement

In 49 U.S.C. 60110 Congress directed

the Department of Transportation (DOT)

to issue regulations requiring operators

to notify customers in writing about

EFV availability, the safety benefits

derived from installation, and costs

associated with installation,

maintenance, and replacement. The

regulations were to provide that, except

where installation is already required, if

the customer requests installation, an

operator must install an EFV that meets